Female Marine Corps recruit Kylieanne Fortin, 20, of Williamsport, Maryland goes through close combat training at the United States Marine Corps recruit depot June 23, 2004 in Parris Island, South Carolina. Marine Corps boot camp, with its combination of strict discipline and exhaustive physical training, is considered the most rigorous of the armed forces recruit training.

On Tuesday the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act, voting 85 to 13. This act "authorizes $602 billion in military spending, bars shuttering the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and denies the Pentagon's bid to start a new round of military base closings" according to the Associated Press.

The legislation would also require young women to sign up for a military draft, also known as Selective Services, when they turn 18. Women have been making important strides towards equality in the military, and proponents of the bill argue that this is simply the next step.

"The fact is, every single leader in this country, both men and women, members of the military leadership, believe that it’s fair since we opened up all aspects of the military to women that they would also be registering for Selective Services," said Senator John McCain.

Opponents of the measure claim that women have no place on the front lines. "The idea that we should forcibly conscript young girls into combat to my mind makes little or no sense," said Senator Ted Cruz.

As the New York Times reports, the U.S. has not used a military draft since 1973 during the Vietnam War.

It remains to be seen whether or not the White House will veto this bill.